Flashed building structure



New. 26, l l l I 935I P. A. volGT 2,021,929

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`|NVNTOR Paul 7053115.

MR um x ATTORNEY Nov., 26, 1935. P, Al VOlGT 2,02,929

FLASHED BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed May 2o, 1952 s sheets-sheet A2 ATTORNEYf a l 7 mwmon li Paul A. mi BY 4 I l ,Q2/@4f Nov. 26, 1935.

P. A. VOIGT FLASHED BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed May 20, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet3 wol.. R70 f w 0 R m/dwm wm KA um @U Patented Nov. 26, 1935 FLAsnEDBUILDING STRUCTURE Paul A. Voigt, Ozone Park, N. Y., assignor toJohns-Mauville Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYorkApplication May 20, 1932, Serial No. 612,439

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a fiashed structure comprising corrugatedsheets or the like and particularly to such a structure comprisingflashing strips of serni-rigid material. A preferred ein- .bodiment is abuilding structure including corrugated sheets forming joints with othersheets and flashing strips comprising bituminous fibrous materialclosing the said joints.

Advantages in the use of corrugated sheets of structural material arewell,V known. Thus, it is understood that the corrugation adds strengthto the sheet. Corrugated sheets of rigid, strong, non-corrodiblematerial, made, for example, by highly compressing and shaping a Wetmixture of Portland cement and asbestos fibers and then allowing theresulting sheet to harden, are especially desirable in buildingconstruction.

On the other hand, there have been encountered certain diculties in theuse of corrugated sheets, particularly stone-like sheets such as thoseoi Portland cement and asbestos iibers, in building structures. Forexample, there has been, up to the present time, no completelysatisfactory method of closing or flashing the joints between suchcorrugated sheets and plane surfaces, or between the corrugated sheetsand other corrugated suriaces which, because of the angle of joining orother reasons, do not mesh or conform with each other. This dimculty maybe illustrated by the case of a typical building structure includingcorrugated sheets. Such a building contains a. joint between thecorrugated sheets and a ridge roll or cover, usually with either an edgeor a plane surface. If the crests -of the corrugations contact with thestraight edge or plane surface, there will remain openings correspondingto the depressed portions of the corrugated sheet. Again, there will beopen spaces between the crests of the corrugations and the edge of anupright wall at the eaves and usually also at the gables. Furthermore,flashing the corrugated sheets against plane surfaces will be necessaryin cases of door and Window jambs, heads and sills and also at the watertable of the foundation.

In flashing corrugated surfaces against flat surfaces, there hasheretofore been used one of several expediente, none of which isentirely satisfactory. Thus a' stripof felt may be used. lMore commonly,in constructing buildings with corrugated stone-like units, there hasbeen used a soft material which is inserted in plastic form in the spacebetween the corrugated and the plane surfaces and then allowed toharden. Thus, there have been used compositions comprising acementitious material such as plaster or concrete, sawdust, and/or otheringredients. Also, putty has been used.

Felt is not impervious to water or wind. Furthermore, unprotectedvegetable iibers are subject to decay when exposed to weather.

Concrete, plaster, and putty compositions are inconvenient to apply and,after final hardening, are brittle and readily cracked. Also, ifsuccess-I ful in closing a joint, they tend to bind the val@ rious partsof a building into a structure adapted. to vibrate as a whole.

Itis anobject of this invention to overcome the disadvantages ofcorrugated structures that have been mentioned, to provide a completely15 flashed building comprising corrugated sheets, and/or to provide anovel ashing strip. Other objects and advantages will appear from thedetailed description that follows.

An embodiment of the invention that is pre- 20 ferred at this time isillustrated by reference to the drawings in which Fig. 1 shows aperspective view of a building comprising corrugated sheets.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the ridge por- 25 tion of the roofalong the lsection line 2--2`of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a ridge portion of the roof, with partsbroken away for clearness of illustration.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a semi-rigid flashing or filler strip.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modied shape of flashing or fillerstrip, with adjoining strips in phantom. 35

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, with'parts broken away for clearness ofillustration, of an assembly at the eaves portion of the building alongthe` section line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 isa 4horizontal sectional viewof a corner 40 assembly along thesection line 1--1 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a perspective sectional view of the water table flashing ofthe corrugated siding against the foundation, the view being taken alongthe section line 8-8 of Fig. 1. 45

Fig. 9 is a perspective sectional view illustrating the method ofiiashing the corrugated sheeting against the head of either a door or aWindow and taken along the section line ila-9a. or' Sib-9b of Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating the flashing ofcorrugatedrsheeting against either a door or a window jamb and takenalong the section lines Na-Illa or MIb-lub of Fig. 1.

Pig. 1l. is a vertical sectional view illustrating 55 the iiashing ofcorrugated roong against corrugated siding at the gable portion of thebuilding and taken along the section line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating the flashing of twooverlapping corrugated sheets with each other, and taken along thesection line I2-A-,I2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. I3 is a perspective view of a modified form of fastener comprisinga lead thirnble and a bolt (in phantom) that may be used in place of thebolt in the assembly shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 shows a. transverse sectional View of a modified form offlashing or filler strip in which the upper surface is sloped and alsoarched in a direction transverse to the length of the flashing strip.

In the various gures, like reference characters denote like parts.

'I'he building structure may have corrugated roofing sheets I, ridgeportion 2, corrugated siding 4 adjoining the roong along an eavesportion 3, a window 5, a sill or water table portion 8 (Fig. 8),corrugated upright end walls meeting the roof along the rake 1, a door8, and a corner portion 9.

The ridge portion may include an angular o-r inverted trough-like coverpiece I8 extending over the joint I8 formed between two corrugated roofsections I, adjoining at an angle, a filler or iiashing strip I2, afastener such as the bolt I3 with head I4, and shank portion I5 adjacentto the head, that are covered with non-fragile, noncorrodible,non-vibratile material, as, for example, lead, and a member such as theridge toggle plate I6 bearing on the undersurface of the two sections ofroofing. The fastener or bolt passes through a hole in the angular coverand also through a hole in the ridge toggle and is secured therebeneath,as by means of the nut II.

This structure makes possible holding the angular cover or ridge rolland the corrugated sheeting tightly against opposite faces of theflashing strip.

The angular cover or ridge roll is suitably semitubular, made in longsections, say'lO feet long, rigid, and of impervious material. It may beformed by sawing longitudinally, into two halves, a pipe comprising acompressed and then hardened wet composition of Portland cement andasbestos fibers. In the finished assembly, the ridge roll may comprise aplurality of the semitubular sections abutting in end to end,non-overlapping relationship.

Under the joint between abutting ends of the ridge roll there may beinserted an internal batten I9. This batten is a separate member ofshort length, say 6 inches, and of cross section of dimensions and shapeto adapt the batten to t snugly under the abutting ends of the twosections of the ridge roll. For example, when the ridge roll consists oflong sections of semi-tubes of 31A inchesradius, the internal batterimay be a short semi-tube of smaller radius than the ridge roll, say 3inches. The semi-tubular ridge roll corresponds approximately to an arcof 180, whereas the semi-tubular batten member may be something less,say 150, this difference being especially desirable when the ridge rollrests in grooves in the ller strips and the hatten rests on a shoulderof the strip, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The ashing or filling strip I2 may have a transversely undulated orcorrugated surface 20 which meshes with or conforms to the corrugationsin the sheets of roofing material. Also, the strip may have alongitudinal notch or groove 48 in the surface or face oppositelydisposed from the said 'undulated or corrugated surface, to receive andseat an edge of the semi-tubular ridge roll or flashing member I0. Thestrip has two other sides, 23 and 24, that are suitably flat. 5

Since the sheets of corrugated roofing material that are stone-like'haveappreciable thickness and since these sheets have longitudinal (side)overlaps, the average space between the side of a corrugated sheetthatlies over an edge cf an 10 adjacent sheet and the edge of the ridgeroll may be less than the average space at the side of the sheet thatlies under the edge of an adjacent sheet. To offset this gradualnarrowing of the space towards one side of a sheet, the filler strip, 15extending transversely with respect to the overlapping side portions ofthe sheet, has a thickness that is less at one end of the strip than atthe other, that is, the average distance between the face 25, which isplaced towards-the plane sur- 20 face (in this case, the ridge roll),and the corrug'ated face 20, which is placed towards the corrugatedsheeting, is tapered. For example, the average thickness of the fillerstrip illustrated in Fig. 4 is tapered and becomes less towards the 25end 22. The amount by which the filler strip is thinner at the end 22than at the end 2I may correspond approximately to the thickness of asheet of the corrugated material. When this is the case and the strip ismade as long as the 30 distance between an edge of the corrugatedsheeting and the edge of the next sheeting which overlaps the first, saynearly 3 feet when the full width of the individual sheets is 3 feet,the strip is adapted to close the space or joint between the 35 ridgeroll and the end of an underlying corrugated sheet.

In some cases, when the notch 48 is not necessary to maintain contact orengagement with a. surface, as, for example, when it isnot necessary 40to engage an edge of a member such as a ridge roll, the notch or groovemay be omitted from the face of the filler strip. Thus there may be used a strip of a pattern illustrated in Figs. 5. This strip 21 has acorrugated surface 20 and an op- 45 posite face that is plane. Fig. 5shows a strip abutting at ends 2| and 22 with similar strips 25. It willbe noted that the strips are tapered in thickness from one end to theother. When overlapping sheets are laid over an assembly of 50 fillerstrips such as illustrated in Fig. 5, the lower sheet at an overlappedjoint will have an edge abutting the portion of a filler stripprojecting above the end of an adjacent filler strip, as at ends 2I and22. 55

It should be added that the filler strips need not be tapered, even inan assembly comprising overlapping thick sheets of corrugated material,if both sides of each of the said sheets are equidistant from thesurface with which they are flashed.

In the eaves assembly, illustrated in Fig. 6, there is shown again afiller vstrip with one face grooved, at 48. In this case the groove issufciently wide to receive the undulating edge of the upright corrugatedsheet or siding. The upper surface of the strip is transverselycorrugated to conform with the surface of an overlying sheet. 'I'heupper surface 28 may have certain features which were not described inconnection with, the filler strips above. Thus, the upper surface of thestrip may be sloped in the direction of the pitch of the roof, to giveto the'ller strip a cross section that is a right trapezium, suitablywith the base thereof notched. Furthermore, the slopof the strip.

Where desired there may be used a metal clip such as the Z-clip 29 forassisting in holding the filler strip in position. Such a clip may besecured at one end to a wall or roof of the building and may project attheother end alongside the filler strip in such a manner as to limit themovement of the latter.

The corner assembly illustrated in Fig. 7 shows a senil-tubular flashingelement 4l placed over the Vertical joint between two corrugated sheetsmeeting at an angle, with the corrugations in each extending in the samedirection. In the case illustrated, the two sheets meet, that is,actually meet or approach each other at approximately a right angle andthe corrugations extend upwardly. The semi-tubular flashing element isheld firmly to sheets on each side of the joint by means of avbolt withhead 3 I, shank 32, and a nut 33, as illustrated. Here again, the headof the bolt and the portion of the shank adjacent to the head aresuitably covered with non-fragile, noncorrodible, non-Vibratilematerial, preferably a metal, such as lead, tin, or the like. Thecovering on the shank may be tapered to adapt the shank to fit snuglyinto an oversize hole. The bolt may be 1/4 inch in diameter of 'theuncovered portion of the shank, for example, and it may fit snugly atthe covered portion of the shang into a hole of -l-g inch diameter.

In this corner assembly there is illustrated a portion of the supportingcolumn 34, as well as girts 35, these composing a part ofthe supportingsubstructure of the building. Other parts of the substructure such asrafters, beams or studs are not illustrated, inasmuch as the supportingsubstructure may be of conventional design. Conventional means ofattachment of the sheets to the substructure may also be used.

In the sill detail shown in Fig. 8, there is a concrete base orfoundation 35 of the building, with sloping watertable 31 against whichvertically corrugated sheets are flashed by a filler strip of the type21.

The same type of filler strip may be used in flashing another planesurface to a corrugated surface, in which the corrugations of ,thesurfaces run vertically to the direction of the joint between the twotypes of surfaces. Thus, in Fig. 9 there is shown the flashing of a dooror window head 38 to upright corrugated sheeting 4I by means of theflashing strip 21.

The flashing of a door or window jamb 50 (Fig. 10) with verticallycorrugated sheeting 40 and vertical studding 5I illustrates thecondition in which a plane surface is flashed against another surfacethat is provided with corrugations extending in a direction parallel tothe zone of flashing. In this case there is used a filler strip 39 thatis corrugated or undulated in a direction parallel to its length.

A filler strip 39 of the same type is useful in flashing the edge of theend wall or gable 52 to corrugated roong 53 at the rake portion, asillustrated in Fig. 11.

The method of flashing overlapping Acorrugated surfaces that conform toeach other is illustrated in Fig. 12. Through a hole inthe twoconforming sheets in the zone of overlapping,

there is inserted a bolt with head 3| and shank 5 32, both being coveredwith non-corrodible, inelastic material, the covering on the shank beingpreferably tapered. The bolt is provided with a nut 33 which is engagedbelow the underside of the overlapping sheets whereby the sheets 42 and43 are held tightly together. Since the bolt is preferably inserted withthe head portion exposed to the weather, if any partis tobe exposed, theparts below the head and the portion of the shank adjacent to the headneed not be completely non-corrodible. The inelastic lead contact withthe structural units minimizes the transmission of vibrations from oneunit to another. The lead being a diicultly flowable solid adapts thecoated shank to be fitted tightly into a hole. By using such aconstruction I have found that electrolysis and corrosion under theconditions of use are not serious. The bolt may be constructed of anysuitable, strong material with an exterior that ls corrosion resistant,as, for example, zinc or chromium-plated iron or steel, aluminum, orbrass. The structure with the bolt, as illustrated in Fig. l2, forexample, has irnportant advantages over a nail with lead-covered shank.The close, permanent fitting of the lead 30 taper on'the shank of thenail is jeopardized either by probable injury to the soft shank as thenail is pounded into position or by the gradual'but appreciable flowingof the lead under pressure and vibration in the finished assembly, withno means of correction. In the applicants structure referred to, thelead covered shank is tightened in position by the means 33. With thistype of fastening member, there is no need of hard driving of the memberinto place, with possible attendant injury to the soft lead; bytightening of the nut 33 at intervals any looseness occasioned by theflowing of the lead may be corrected and the tightness of the fitreestablishcd.

A modification of the fastening element that 45 is illustrated in Fig.13 comprises a bolt (shown in phantom), suitably cadmium-plated iron,1nserted through a lead thimble including the sleeve 44 and the attachedwasher portion 45. After the bolt is inserted through members that thebolt is to hold together and has been secured by means of the nut 33,the exposed head of the bolt is suitably covered with a non-corrosiveand noncorrodible putty. However, such covering is usuallyAunsatisfactory in that it is occasionally cracked off, for example,with consequent exposure of the iron bolt head. The head then rusts.

The flashing or filler strip is preformed and may be composed of abituminous or other plastic composition, suitably with a fibrousreenforcing and s tiffening material. Thus, the strip may be composed ofbitumen and asbestos fibers. A composition that is preferred at thistime is one comprising asphalt and rag fibers, in about the proportioncommonly used in asphalt saturated roofing paper.. Such a compositionmay contain an admixed finely divided inorganic filler, to de- A creasethe susceptibility of the asphalt to change in viscosity withtemperature. For this purpose, there may be used ground limestone orcomminuted diatomaceous earth inv the proportion of a few percent, say 3to 5 percent, of the weight of the other ingredients. Compositions andprocesses used ln making so-called asphalt planks may be used. Sheets orplanks so made may be cut, finally, into flashing strips of shape andsize desired.

Thus, a bituminous fibrous composition adapted for use in making asphaltplanks may be warmed, say to about F., and extruded in the form of asheet of thickness approximately equal to the width desired between thetwo oppositely disposed flat faces of the filler strips illustrated, forexample, in Fig. 5. After being cooled, the sheet is cut transverselyinto strips of the desired dimensions and shapes of surfaces. Stripsaveraging 2% inches square in cross section and about 3 feet long havebeen used.

Such strips used in flashing have several important features in additionto those that have been mentioned.

Being non-vibratile, that is, not readily set in vibration, theyminimize the transmission of vibration from one section of a, buildingto another flashed thereto. Also, they serve to a certain extent t0 dampvibration within a given section.

The strips are semi-rigid.

They are sufficiently plastic to conform in time to a slightly unevensurface over which they are placed.

Also, they seat themselves on a rough surface, such as one of Portlandcement and asbestos, and develop in time considerable adherance theretoor footing therein.

On the other hand, ethe strips made as described are not so plastic asto flow out of a joint and thus leave an empty space.

The asphalt impregnation of the fibers in the strips is so thorough asto produce impermeability to wind and water and to protect the fibersfrom decay.

The strips are of low first cost.

They are reusable. Thus they may be removed from one assembly andinstalled in another.

The impregnated strips are not subject to deterioration on aging to theextent that rubber, for example, is. However, vvulcanized rubber stripsmay be used in a structure in which it is not essential to have a strippossessing great durability, a strip that will deform gradually of itsown weight to fill a minor underlying space, or a strip that will slowlyfoot itself in a rough surface.

In general, compositions usable in the filler strip should beweatherproof and waterproof, non-corrodible, somewhat yieldable orsemi-rigid, that is, deformable to a limited extent at least withoutcracking, and non-vibratile, that is not adapted to be set in vibrationby impulses applied thereto. Other properties mentioned in connectionwith the description of the asphaltrag fiber compositions are desirablebut may be omitted if their functions are not desired in a givenstructure.

'Since the flashing strips in the preferred embodiment of the inventionare provided with a corrugated surface that conforms with thecorrugations of the corrugated roof or side wall sections and sinceanother face of the flashing strip conforms with the surface with whichthe said corrugated sheeting is being flashed, a closed joint isobtained. The ashing strip being weatherproof and water-tight, entranceof moisture through the joint is minimized or entirely eliminated.

On the other hand, the flashing strip does not bond itself to thesurfaces that are being flashed in such a manner as to give an elasticor rigid bond that, if formed, might transmit vibrations.

It will be observed that the structure illustrated in Fig. 1 and indetail in certain of the other figures, is completely flashed at everyposition where a. corrugated sheet meets another unit of the structure.

Since many variations from the details that have been given may be madeWithout departing from the scope of the invention and since the detailsgiven are for the purpose of illustration and not restriction, it isintended that the invention should be limited only by the terms of theclaims.

What I claim is:

1. A preformed semi-rigid strip adapted for Ause in flashing a jointbetween sheets of building material and being of lesser averagethickness at one end of the strip than at the other end.

2. A preformed semi-rigid strip adapted for use in flashing a jointbetween a sheet of building material and another structural unit andbeing of lesser average thickness at one end of the strip than at theother end and being provided on a surface thereof with a longitudinallyextending groove.

3. A preformed semi-rigid strip adapted for use in flashing a jointbetween sheets of building material and having one face of the striparched in a direction extending transversely with respect to the lengthof the strip.

4. A preformed semi-rigid strip adapted for use in flashing thejoint-between a corrugated sheet and another member, thesaid strip beingprovided with a corrugated surface adapted to conform with the saidsheet and with another surface provided with a longitudinally extendinggroove adapted to engage the said member.

5. A preformed semi-rigid strip adapted for use in flashing a jointbetween a corrugated sheet and another member, the'strip being providedwith a surface that is corrugated and adapted to conform to the saidsheet and having an average thickness that tapers from one end of thestrip to the other.

6. In a structure adapted for use at the ridge portion of a roof of abuilding, the improvement comprising two corrugated roof sectionsmeeting at an angle to form a. joint therebetween, an angular coverpiece overlying the said joint, and preformed semi-rigid flashing stripsclosing the space between the said cover piece and the roof sections andprovided each With a longitudinal groove seating an edge of the saidcover piece.

7. A preformed bituminous fibrous strip adapted for use in flashing ajoint between a corrugated and a plane surface, the strip being providedWith a surface that is corrugated and having an average thickness thattapers from one end to the other.

8. A weather-proof and water-tight structural assembly adapted for useat the ridge portion of aroof, comprising a sheet provided withcorrugations adjoining another Asheet at an angle to form a jointtransverse to the direction of the corrugations, an angular cover forthe said joint, a semi-rigid ashing strip closing the joint between theangular cover and the corrugated sheet, fastening means including aplate bearing against the lower surface of the corrugated sheet and afastening member holding the angular cover and the corrugated sheettightly against opposite faces of the flashing strip, the fasteningmember comprising a bolt with a noncorrodible head and a shank passingthrough a. hole in the angular cover and also through a hole of a roof,comprising roong sheets terminating at the said ridge portion andleaving therebetween a space to be dashed; semi-rigid flashing stripsdisposed over the said sheets, adjacent to the end portions'thereof, thesaid strips being provided each with upstanding shoulders, on the uppersurface thereof, defining grooves between them; aplurality of sectionsof angular coverv pieces disposed above the said space, abutting attheir ends, and engaged at their side edges in the said grooves; and aninternal batten of the'type of a separate angular cover piece of shortlength and of cross section of shape and size adapting the said separatemember to t snugly under abutting ends of the said cover pieces, thesaid hatten at its side edges resting upon shoulders in the uppersurfaces of the said senil-rigid strips.

10. In a building assembly, the combination of rigid elementsdisposedone above the other and provided with registering holes and afastening member extending through the'sad holes and holding the saidelements to each other, the fastening member including ahead portion \ofnon-vcorrodible exterior, a sloped shank por- '.tion i'ltting tightly 1nthe hole in the upper of the said' elements and having a non-corrodible,vibration-damping exterior, of the type of lead, that is slowly owableunder pressure and vibration, a stem portion extending through theotherof the said holes, and means for tightening at 15 will the fit of thetapered shank'within the hole in the upper element.

PAUL A. VOIGT.

